New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-19
Mn TEESrX R4RELT

The Offer Of a reward OF sl25 900 by the Gov
eminent Of New South Wales for any method or
process not previously known " the colony for
the clrcctual determination Or rabbits must
draw general att ntion to "A peculiar situation.
The introduction Of the rabbit to New South
Wales effected no doubt by some eager
sportsman, who did not reflect that so prolific
n creature, when placed in habitat free from
it, natural en- mes was certain To multiply and
rcplcni,h the earth. and might possibly subduc
il. And IN fact this is what has happened 'Brcr
Rabbit never found himself In ideally favorl-
bic position before. There were no wcascs
nor stoats nor foxes nor hawks nor owls 10 inter
fcre with and to keep him down. The soil
was easily worked, and the topography
Of the country was cmlncntlv adapted
TO the ayirg out and construction Of the most
extensive warrcns So the rabbit went to work
and spread himself all over ue colony and
presently the people began 10 realize that II IS
quite possible TO have too much Of good thing.
The rabbits evidently concluded that all crops
were grown for their special benefit. They con
sumcd everything that sproutcd, and all the
guns and traps available could make no impress
sion upon their numbers. As the futIty of the
contest became more apparent. the uneasincss II
tn colonists increased, and what had AT first
Md easy matter 10 settle assumed grave
prop r;Ions. Then every device that local IN
gcnuity could compass was rcsortcd TO, but 1t WAS
soon pcrcci,c d that a good many things which
Will kill rabbits will unfortunately also kill cattle
and sheep, and hogs and dogs. TIE struggle has
been going on quite long time, and the offer
Of the Government now published shows that
'Brcr RABBIT is far ahead The colony has 10
confess itself beaten. and perhaps II the cAtcr-
ina, ID il lgI in fetv
years Now South Wales may have TO be surrcn-
der to the feeble folk" that inhnbit the
warrcns The problem is difficult one The
successful method or process must bc not in
lurious" to anybody but the rabbits understood
and IL shall not involve the use Of any matter,
an nal 81 thing that may be noNious 10 horses,
cattle. sheep camels. goats swine or dogs Here
evidently is an opening for American inventive
genius which will be awaited Of
To kill the rabbits without killing anything
else that is the problem which has thus far
banlcd New South Wales completely II 'Brcr
Rab il WAS susceptible 10 the fascination Of the
flowing bowl IL would he possible To apply 10
him the methods by which Chrstcndom is civil
ling the Savage Of the Period oil the face of
the earth In that case the Congo Basin policy
might be followed with ADVANTAGE. 'nt even
were 'Brcr Rabbit amcnablc 10 this influence, IL
is 10 bc feared that tho second condition imnoScd
by tie New Sonth Wales Government would bar
il out The colonial situation is I'm fact per-
picking and decidedly pcrlous nor is il possible
10 forcscc the outcome. But il is mt least plain
enough that mans attempts to improve upon
nature are attended with real danger when he
fails 10 count the cost Of his experiments in adj
vance The Eugl Sh sparrow is another case in
point, but 81 slight importance compared TO this
one in which the future cN stcncc Of flourish
ing colony is mcnaced by the fccundiy Of one OF
che millcSt and most timd little animrls In the
world